NCAA Tournament report: Kentucky likely to be without Cauley-Stein

Updated 8:02 pm, Monday, March 31, 2014

Photo: Jeff Roberson, STF

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein shoots during practice for the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Thursday, March 20, 2014, in St. Louis. Kentucky is scheduled to play Kansas State in a second-round game on Friday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) less

Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein shoots during practice for the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Thursday, March 20, 2014, in St. Louis. Kentucky is scheduled to play Kansas State in a second-round game ... more

Photo: Jeff Roberson, STF

NCAA Tournament report: Kentucky likely to be without Cauley-Stein

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Injured Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein likely will not play in the Wildcats' national semifinal game against Wisconsin on Saturday, coach John Calipari said.

"I doubt he plays," Calipari said. "He will be on our bench cheering like crazy."

Cauley-Stein injured his left ankle in the early minutes of the Wildcats' Midwest Regional semifinal victory over Louisville on Friday night. He missed the regional final triumph over Michigan on Sunday.

The sophomore is the Wildcats' top interior defender and averages 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds.

With Cauley-Stein out, his minutes will go to Marcus Lee, a McDonald's All-American who has mostly served as a role player this season. Lee responded with 10 points and eight rebounds against Michigan.

Best Bets To This Weekend According To Vegas InsiderSports Illustrated

"I love what Marcus did," Calipari said. "We made the game really simple for him, saying 'You're only going to do these three things. Don't give them the ball in these positions; just give it here. Go and do what you do. The world will be talking about you after the game.' He was trending worldwide."

Florida familiar with opponents

Top-ranked Florida enters the Final Four as a slight favorite to cut the nets as the only remaining No. 1 seed and with the highest ranking.

The Gators have met all three remaining teams earlier in the season. Florida beat Kentucky three times. Its only two setbacks this season came in a 59-53 loss at Wisconsin on Nov. 12 and a 65-64 loss at Connecticut on Dec. 2.

"I think that is a good thing as it relates to preparation," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "From a preparation standpoint, we can take some things from previous games, things we need to do better. Every team right now, since we've played them, has evolved in some ways. Hopefully, we've evolved as well."

Frank a tank for Wisconsin

Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky has been perhaps the nation's most improved player this season, developing as the Badgers' leading scorer after averaging 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds as a sophomore last season.

The 7-footer had 28 points and 11 rebounds in the Badgers' victory over Arizona in the West Regional finals.

"He's just a tough young man who really wants to be a player, who has physically and mentally matured into what he feels he's comfortable with as far as his body and mind are concerned," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "He's improved in every phase of the game."

Ollie applies various lessons

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie has taken his team to the Final Four in his first NCAA Tournament and second season as the Huskies' coach.

Ollie went 20-10 last season, when the Huskies were banned from the Tournament for not meeting academic standards.

Ollie joined Jim Calhoun's staff as an assistant after a 13-season NBA playing career that finished in 2010 with Oklahoma City and included stints for 11 teams.

"I've seen different offenses, defenses, different ways a coach can communicate with his players," Ollie said. "I wasn't the most talented guy. I had to watch tape, watch film, scout my opponent to get the best advantage. I always prided myself as being a coach on the court."